Bee buzzing over children’s book
After years of trying to get her children’s book published, Nelson singer songwriter Kath Bee has finally succeeded.
Bee said for the past seven years she had been trying to get her most popular children’s song Dragons Under My Bed made into a children’s book.
But it wasn’t until a teacher from a school she had just performed at came up to her to tell her that her husband was a publisher, that the ball started rolling.
Bee said if it wasn’t for that event, she didn’t think the book would have ever been published.
Dragons Under My Bed is about a young boy at bedtime, who has some interesting visitors once his mother turns off the light.
The book will be released in August and features illustrations by Auckland based illustrator Lisa Allan. A CD with the best of Bee’s songs will be released simultaneously.
Bee said before she became a singer and songwriter in 2002, she wrote children’s stories.
‘‘I tried to get them published years and years ago but didn’t have any luck.
‘‘I did get nice feedback on them from publishers.’’
Dragons Under My Bed won the 2014 APRA Children’s Video of the Year and Bee said she had never met anyone who didn’t like the song.
Bee said she hoped after this book, more would follow.
‘‘You never know, but I do have several songs and some picture book ideas in mind.’’
Bee said she’d be touring New Zealand until October, performing in many libraries in that time.
‘‘Then once I find out which book shops are taking on the books, I’ll do a book shop tour in November and December.’’